Valuing genetic and genomic testing in France: current challenges and latest evidence

High-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies have seen an increase in use in most developed countries. The translation of genomic testing into clinical practice challenges the traditional model of medical care in France and raises numerous medical, legal, ethical, organizational, and financial issues. In order to allow the population to use this revolution to its advantage, France has conceived the French Plan for Genomic Medicine 2025. Its aim is to improve health and quality of life, to organize new pathways of care and counseling, and to make decisions about insurance coverage. It has also been designed to drive innovation and promote economic growth in France by incorporating genomic medicine into the French health care system. These issues can be addressed through evaluations developed to aid the decision-making process in the context of resource scarcity. Health economists can help to resolve these resource allocation challenges by measuring the impact of this technological revolution on patients, caregivers, providers, and the health care system. In this paper, we will review challenges associated with implementing genomic testing in France. One of the pilot studies of the French Plan for Genomic Medicine 2025 will be presented as an illustration of the role of health economists in overcoming some of the challenges of this technological revolution.